Talk:The Hindu Values of Sportsmanship:Unity and Team Spirit or Comradery
By Vishal Agarwal and The Hindu Society of Minnesota
We should think collectively for our good as a team, not just our personal good at the detriment of the team’s victory and welfare. If some team members are nasty or non-cooperative, we must not waste too much time with them and instead collaborate with others.
The stream (of life) filled with stones (obstacles) flows on. Move forward together. Stand erect, and cross over my friends! Let us leave here those who are opposed to good; and let us cross over to the powers that are beneficent. —Ṛgveda 10.53.8
If we are united, we will be successful. If we are disunited, we will fail collectively.
If a stout and sturdy tree, with deep roots and a giant stature stands alone, it can be uprooted and smashed to the ground by storm winds in a short time. But if there are several trees together in a grove, then even the strongest winds cannot destroy them. —Mahābhārata 5.36.62–63
'Story: How the Parrots Defeated the Bird-Catching Hunter'
A group of parrots once saw corn thrown on the grass underneath a tree. They descended and started nibbling at the corn. But it was a trap – suddenly a net fell on all of them! They were trapped. Soon, the hunter who had set the trap started coming towards them.
The parrots were now terrified. They knew that the hunter would capture them in the net and then sell them in a market in cages. The eldest and wisest parrot suddenly had a great idea. He said, “Let us all fly up at the same time. Then, we can fly away from the hunter swiftly and go to the Sona Hill, where lives our friend mouse. When we reach there, the mouse can use his sharp teeth to cut the net open and free us.”
So, all the parrots started flapping their wings at once and lifted the net. The bird catcher was surprised at what he saw. He started chasing them but became exhausted after a long run. The birds flew with the net together to the Sona Hill, where they found their friend, the mouse, who chewed up the net with his teeth and freed them.
This story has a great message. The parrots as well as the mouse were very weak as compared to the hunter. But they applied their effort together, and as a result, they were able to defeat the hunter!
Collaboration[edit]
If team players only play for their personal glory and recognition, they will fail as a team and success will elude them. But if the players collaborate for the collective victory of the team, helping their teammates in their respective tasks, they will all become winners. The following story illustrates this value.
'Story: Whom Does Bhagavān Like?'
This story is narrated to illustrate how those who help others help themselves and why comradery and mutual collaboration is very important in life.